Royals Fall to Astros in the Last of the Series to End the Winning Streak

Record: 14-15

Winning/Losing Pitcher:

W: Hunter Brown (4-1 | 1.22 ERA)

L: Kris Bubic (2-1 | 2.25 ERA)

Key Highlights

Today was not as bad as the box score might reflect for Kris Bubic. He did give up four runs, but three of them were on one hit to probably of the top 4 hitters in baseball, regardless of what his batting average says. Yordan Alvarez is a problem and will get you every time you make a mistake. He also just saw Bubic really well.

It was kind of a three man show for the Astros today as Jeremy Pena and Chaz McCormick did the rest of the heavy lifting. McCormick just reeking havoc and stirring the drink from the nine spot, and Pena cleaning it up with a few RBI on his pair of hits. Bobby Witt Jr. continued the hitting streak, making it 19 games for him so far. With an RBI double in the fifth to trim the deficit to 3. Keep it running, Bob. Hunter Brown was shut. down. for the Astros on Sunday. Nine Ks over six and only allowed a run. This Royals team just couldn’t get anything going off him, and sometimes you gotta tip your cap. 

I’d say the detail that kind of sticks out to me is putting in Chris Stratton in a three run game. I get it’s a Sunday afternoon and it’s the sixth inning, but we know he comes in: when the game is already over from either side. So it’s a little tough to see him come out and turn a three-run game into a five-run game and officially put the nail in the coffin. I feel like Stratton is creating his own way out the door. They have better arms than him and someone else could pop in and probably be more valuable. But he is that veteran you have signed, so pick your poison. Of course we can play “coulda, woulda, shoulda” but this team scored a few runs in the ninth. So if the game is attainable, you could get back in it. Let’s not just submit in the sixth.

Speaking of those runs, just key moments at the end that were nice to see in a game that was over. Maikel Garcia with a hustle double down by five is something you want out of your core players. With Garcia really not cementing himself as an every day player before the season, it’s great to see a guy who highlights 100% all the time. Which is something we didn’t necessarily see from Maikel as he was struggling last year. Good for that dude. Drew Waters also having a triple. Albeit, his first hit in the ninth is underwhelming but don’t throw away those ABs. If Waters keeps hitting like this he stays in lineup, no questions asked, go with the hot hand. 

So this one was ugly, so on a day where we had more hits but four less runs, no Royals player is getting PoG. Yordan Alvarez can have it for all I care. What an absolute bopper.

Summary of the Next Game: 

The boys in blue are off on Monday, but will look to get back to their winning ways on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Royals make their first trip to George M. Steinbrenner field, the temporary home of the Rays due to hurricane Milton. Michael Lorenzen will take the hill in that small park to try to build on his most recent start of six strong only allowing one run against the Rockies. Young artist Taj Bradley on the mound for the Rays who has struggled his past couple starts. He started out strong, but has allowed nine earned runs those last two. Hopefully the Royals offense can come back out of its shell and keep it going. 6:05 CST, as they are in Florida for this one. I hope we see this Royals offense come out in a ballpark completely different from their own.